To me it means when I am able to click a self-assign link and choose a date that I'll then be automatically assigned that shop on that date. Apparently some MSCs don't think that. If I do the steps above and receive a notice that they'll let me know if I'll be approved then that is NOT self-assigning, that's APPLYING.
Big difference when you are planning routes.

Sometimes shops are marked for self-assign and in most cases when you click on the shop it is automatically assigned to you. When something doesn't work, like you are the wrong demographic, instead of self-assigning, the shop generates a notice that you have applied and a scheduler will let you know if you are assigned.

Then it's not self-assign is it? It doesn't really matter the reason. I don't mind applying, at least I know that's what Im doing.

Perhaps someone can add to the website/scheduling page an explanation about the factors that trigger a change in the status from "self-assign" to application for each shop type. Would something like that make it easier for you to schedule your route shops? Would something else be more effective?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/04/2017 01:49AM by Shop-et-al.

The phrase should be "self assign, if qualified." The system doesn't know until you submit your self assign request if you are out of rotation or don't meet the demographics. Sometimes there is a short on-screen message to explain why the self assignment didn't go through for you. Whenever you see "self assign" add "if qualified."

I, for one, enjoy being able to reschedule a shop on my own without having to contact anyone to ask permission. I know sometimes there needs to be a buffer and not all dates are allowed, but those who have systems that are set up for this are much appreciated. That and shops that are self assign (even when you need to fit qualifications) make life much more easier on a shopper

"Would something else be more effective?"
Yes, unless a shop is truly open to self-assign it should be labeled as apply.
There is nothing wrong with apply. If you meet all the criteria you can then be brought immediately to "you qualify for self-assign."

Today I had to cancel an application after waiting days to be assigned. The reason I was willing to do the shop was I could pick the place and the day. But it wasn't really self-assign. It was frustrating to be a bit mislead.

I guess I should have immediately cancelled my "application" rather than wait so long but you really don't know if it will be a few minutes or days for your application to be accepted or rejected. At this point my shop day has changed enough that I no longer am going to plan on doing that shop.

All lessons learned, I guess. Maybe commenting about it will help those making the word choices on the software understand a shoppers perspective a bit.
For those who always want to blame the shoppers, it's okay, I already take it. (But words do matter.)

I have just run into that. Most of the time I am on a self-assign I can watch the system go through the process, and I will see the job come up in the shop log. If I do not see it I check the Apps and it might or might not show up in there. But if I see it still on the job board then it did not go through. Maybe I had done one in the last year and forgot about it. Or maybe I am the wrong sex or too old too young who knows. Maybe that why the word mystery is in the name of what we do. I doubt that but too good not to mention.

In the Sassie program, the message is posted as "Self-Assign, if qualified," and the qualifications are listed. I have never encountered the problems you have with the companies I work for. Either way, you should get a message, in Sassie it shows up on the next page, that you have been assigned. I have been in the same situation where I have limited availability. To keep good standing with the company, you should immediately cancel your application or email the scheduler when you know you can't complete it when it is assigned. If/when you are assigned, you should get an email stating that the assignment has been given to you. You should receive a notification, or the shop should show on your "assigned/to-do" log whether it is self-assigned or scheduled.

Self- assign makes me happy, cuts out time and effort. Always like the reminder emails when I self-assign.
I think it a quicker more efficient way of getting jobs done.

If the shop is more than 5 days out when you self assign, give the MSC 48h to accept or decline. If it is a weekend give them 72h.

Although some shops are self assign, check back everyday to see if was assigned.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/05/2017 04:02PM by sojo917.

@sojo917 wrote:

If the shop is more than 5 days out when you self assign, give the MSC 48h to accept or decline. If it is a weekend give them 72h.

Although some shops are self assign, check back everyday to see if was assigned.

Absolutely agree with being patient and waiting for an APPLY shop. Self-assign not so much, especially when it's a shop that I've seen on their job board for at least one month.

I don't base wait time on anything other than how easy or hard it is to plug the assignment into my schedule. A truly quick and easy shop directly on my route may wait until the morning of the route. Other times I may withdraw the app by the close of business on the same day I applied.

I really like self-assign. I know instantly if I don't qualify. I don't have to wait for someone to get in touch with me. I am not sure what some of you mean when you say you don't want to wait for someone to get back to you.
Either you get the shop or you don't instantly. By stating that I don't qualify saves me a lot of time. I shop a lot of banks and their schedules are all different. I just keep self-assigning if necessary to get the shop.

@shopper8 wrote:

I really like self-assign. I know instantly if I don't qualify. I don't have to wait for someone to get in touch with me. I am not sure what some of you mean when you say you don't want to wait for someone to get back to you.
Either you get the shop or you don't instantly. By stating that I don't qualify saves me a lot of time. I shop a lot of banks and their schedules are all different. I just keep self-assigning if necessary to get the shop.

I'm talking about an MSC that has a link that says "self-assign" next to the shop. You click self-assign, choose the date and enter. Then you are taken to a page that instead of saying you've been assigned or declined the shop it says you will notified by email sometime in the future if you have been accepted for it. I agree that I love self-assign. What I don't love is what I *think* is self-assign turning out NOT be that at all.

I totally agree with you Margovt. I have applied for shops that say self assign only to not be self assigned. As far as I know I was always within age, sex, rotation etc for these shops and sometimes I get these shops later, sometimes not. When I apply self assign I know I have the date available. I do not do routes so it is based on my personal schedule for my whole life. If it was an "apply" shop I would perhaps have selected a different date to do it if I was asked to enter a date as my self assign may have fit right then when I clicked on it the day I chose it but as an "apply" shop which it turned into that particular date might not be one I wanted to leave open in case I got the shop. I hope my convoluted explanation makes sense to others! lol

margovt I did not know that other companies did this for self-assign. I wouldn't like it either. I don't work for any of those companies that do that.

I would name the MSC but it seems kind of petty and I just wanted to rant a little bit!

A lot of the sites that have 'self-assign' shops that I am signed up with do say that it is self assign if you qualify.

I think it is a matter of semantics and knowing your MSC's. I like the ones that automatically assign the shop on the date you specify and you know you can put it in your log. I don't rely on shops that are described as self-assign but are really self-apply and are delayed from being assigned for a few hours or days, or never.

@LIJake wrote:

I think it is a matter of semantics and knowing your MSC's. I like the ones that automatically assign the shop on the date you specify and you know you can put it in your log. I don't rely on shops that are described as self-assign but are really self-apply and are delayed from being assigned for a few hours or days, or never.

Yep, going to have to remember each MSC's peculiarities. I love being able to pick a date and add it to my log.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/2017 03:48PM by margovt.

I love the self assign privilege. Granted, on some MSC sites this might not actually happen immediately. Like someone replied above, I too check the app file, if it is there I move on. If confirmed on the date I requested but no longer fits my schedule, I let the scheduler know. They either change the due date or remove the shop. Is it a pain at times? Yes, but its great when it works.

The planned date has been added to some cites along with the start and due dates. I thought the planned date did not matter as long as the the shop was completed by the due date. I was wrong! The due date becomes the date you planned to do it according to a MSC scheduler. I have always done shops on my planned date and never questioned it until recently. I wanted to do it a day sooner. Actually I have with another MSC, but never had a problem doing a shop earlier then planned. Its hard for me to plan days at the beginning of each month without knowing other shops I accept. I normally choose a safe date to accept and reschedule if necessary. BTW, when the above MSC scheduler told me the planned date was the due date I read the instructions and they said the same thing. I felt like an idiot. I checked the other MSC instructions and they did not define what the planned date meant. Mystery shopping is what it is! We can only deal with the unknown and be happy!

I've only been doing mystery shops for two months. When a self-assign was listed for a company near me, I self-assigned. I had done a shop with them before and knew the guidelines, etc. I proceeded to complete the shop. When I tried to do the report the next morning, the shop wasn't on my list. I inquired about it and was told it wasn't my shop and I wouldn't be reimbursed. Very surprising and disappointing. The term "self-assign" is very misleading, in my opinion.

@lbarrows wrote:

I've only been doing mystery shops for two months. When a self-assign was listed for a company near me, I self-assigned. I had done a shop with them before and knew the guidelines, etc. I proceeded to complete the shop. When I tried to do the report the next morning, the shop wasn't on my list. I inquired about it and was told it wasn't my shop and I wouldn't be reimbursed. Very surprising and disappointing. The term "self-assign" is very misleading, in my opinion.

That's one of those hard lessons learned. You and I probably have a few more of those coming.

Unfortunately, you're probably right about that, Margo :-(. I try to focus on this at those moments:
Forget the Mistake, Remember the Lesson ~ Oleg Vishnepolsky

Good luck!